SynopsisKarnataka is establishing new departments for Non-Resident Indians and public grievances. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar aims to boost NRI investments and resolve citizen complaints. Corporate Social Responsibility funds will support education and healthcare initiatives. The government is also reviewing welfare schemes like Gruha Jyothi and Gruha Lakshmi to prevent misuse and ensure benefits reach eligible recipients across the state.PTIKarnataka Chief Minister DK ShivakumarBengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday announced the creation of two new government departments — one to engage with non-resident Indians (NRIs) and facilitate investments into the state, and another to address public grievances.The announcement followed a meeting with senior government officials during which the chief minister outlined his governance priorities. The proposed NRI department will serve as a single point of contact for overseas Indians interested in investing in Karnataka, Shivakumar told reporters.The public grievance department, meanwhile, will focus on resolving complaints raised by citizens. Shivakumar said he frequently came across protests and instances of grievances remaining unaddressed. The new department would seek to address such concerns in a structured manner. Both portfolios will be assigned to ministers, he said.CSR fundsShivakumar said corporates in Karnataka collectively have around Rs 8,000 crore available annually under corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments, but information on how and where these funds are being deployed remains limited.The government is using CSR funds to develop one Karnataka Public School (KPS) for every three gram panchayats. Education remains a priority sector for the government, and it will encourage companies to channel a larger share of their CSR spending towards educational initiatives, he said. Healthcare would be another focus area for CSR funding.Congress guaranteesThe chief minister also indicated that the government was examining beneficiary data under its flagship welfare schemes, including Gruha Jyothi, which provides up to 200 units of free electricity per month, and Gruha Lakshmi, under which women heads of eligible households receive Rs 2,000 every month.Rejecting suggestions that the schemes themselves were under review, Shivakumar said the government had identified instances of misuse. Some beneficiaries were allegedly using free electricity connections for commercial purposes, while in other cases multiple electricity meters were registered in the same individual's name."There are 1.64 crore beneficiaries under the scheme, and the government has no issue if eligible citizens receive the benefit," he said, adding that authorities were gathering data to identify irregularities, including beneficiaries from outside the state.On the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Shivakumar said cases had been detected where benefits continued to be drawn even after the death of eligible recipients. Transfers to ineligible beneficiaries have amounted to around Rs 120 crore, he said, adding that the exercise was aimed at plugging leakages and ensuring benefits reached intended recipients. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)...moreElevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea.Subscribe Now